Does the compressor on a heat pump control just the A/C or the A/C and the heat (in the winter)?

Our compressor went out on our heat pump, which means no A/C for now. Our light bill during the winter was extremely higher than normal, no matter how much we cut the heat back. Does the compressor have anything to do with heat in the winter?Does the compressor on a heat pump control just the A/C or the A/C and the heat (in the winter)?
Yes if you had compressor problems which it appears you did your bill will be higher. I'll explain how a heat pump works below... Good Luck!


The heat pump serves as an air conditioner by absorbing heat from indoor air and pumping it outdoors. The heat pump contains an indoor coil which, in turn, contains a very cold liquid refrigerant. As indoor air passes over the indoor coil, the refrigerant-cooled coil absorbs heat from the air and so quickly cools that air. The cooled air cannot hold as much moisture as it did at a higher temperature. The excess moisture condenses on the outside of the coil, resulting in the dehumidfication of the air. The cooled, dehumidified air is then forced (by a fan) into the duct system which, in turn, circulates it throughout the building. At the same time, the absorption of heat by the refrigerant turns the refrigerant from a liquid into a vapor. A compressor pumps the heat laden vapor through a vapor line to an outdoor coil which discharges the heat extracted from the indoor air. As the heat is discharged, the vapor is cooled and changes back into a liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant is then pumped back through a liquid line to the indoor coil and the cycle is repeated.





In addition to serving as an air conditioner, the heat pump contains a reversal valve which reverses the flow of refrigerant and thus allows the heat pump to serve as a heater during cold weather.





The heat pump serves as a heater by absorbing heat from outdoor air and pumping it indoors. All air, even cold winter air, contains a certain amount of heat. As the outdoor air passes over the outdoor coil, heat from that air is absorbed by the refrigerant contained inside the coil. This absorption of heat changes the refrigerant from a low-temperature liquid to a low-temperature, low-pressure vapor. The vapor then passes through a compressor where it is compressed into a high pressure, high-temperature vapor. The hot vapor then circulates into the indoor coil. As indoor air passes over the indoor coil, it absorbs heat from the coil. The warmed air is then redistributed through the duct system.Does the compressor on a heat pump control just the A/C or the A/C and the heat (in the winter)?
Redeft is right. I didn't realize you said heat pump. I though it was a split system.
Yes, the compressor does have something to do with the heat in the winter. The last two answers are correct. If you have a bad compressor, though, do you know what is wrong; is it electrical, is the compressor motor bad, is it a burnout(if the compressor goes bad sometimes,excessive heat or moisture in the system canbreak down the oil in it and/or cause a chemical reaction between the chemical makeup of the refrigerant and moisture, which can form an acid that gets in the oil and contaminates the closed system, and causes what we refer to as a burnout)? You will need to have this checked by a qualified service technician, and if it is anything I described, the compressor most likely will have to be replaced. This can be very costly and time consuming, so be prepared to make a decision on what you finally have to do.
a heat pump system uses the compressor two different ways forward for air and backwards for heat.freon goes forward and compresses cold backwards and it creates heat.if you have no compressor then you run on whats called emergency heat.which is all electric measured in kw electricity when this happens your electric meter goes nuts and your are having higher electric bills.the solution is to have your compressor replaced.there is a certain temperature that you use electricity anyway but that's only when it is extremely cold where you live .heat pump systems don't work very well unless you live in the south or in an area where it seldom gets below freezing.
Definetlly just the A/C